What is an AAAA record?

An AAAA record maps a hostname to an IPv6 address, the same way an A record maps to IPv4. It is often called a quad-A record. Domains that support IPv6 publish both A and AAAA records so clients on either network can reach them.

Do I need an AAAA record?

Not strictly, since IPv4 still works everywhere, but it helps. Mobile networks in particular increasingly run IPv6-only with translation, and a native AAAA record avoids that translation layer. Only publish one if the server genuinely answers on that address.

Why does my site load slowly after adding an AAAA record?

Usually because the IPv6 address is published but not actually reachable. Clients try it, wait for a timeout, then fall back to IPv4. Either fix IPv6 connectivity on the server or remove the AAAA record until it works.

What does an IPv6 address look like?

Eight groups of four hexadecimal digits separated by colons, such as 2001:0db8:0000:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334. Runs of zero groups can be collapsed to a double colon once per address, which shortens that example to 2001:db8::8a2e:370:7334.

Can one domain have both A and AAAA records?

Yes, and that is the normal setup for IPv6-enabled sites. It is called dual-stack. Clients choose between the two, typically preferring IPv6 when it is available and working.

AAAA Record Lookup

About AAAA Record Lookup

AAAA Record Lookup returns the IPv6 address for a domain. It does the same job as an A record but for 128-bit IPv6 addresses, written as eight groups of hexadecimal digits such as 2606:2800:220:1:248:1893:25c8:1946. The name comes from the size: an IPv6 address is four times the length of an IPv4 address, so four times the A. A domain that only has an A record is reachable over IPv4 only, which is still fine for most visitors but excludes IPv6-only networks, which are increasingly common on mobile carriers. Publishing both an A and an AAAA record makes a host dual-stack, and clients then pick between them using Happy Eyeballs, racing both connections and keeping whichever answers first. That behaviour is why a broken AAAA record is worse than no AAAA record at all: if the address is published but unreachable, some clients still pay a connection timeout before falling back. Check the AAAA record alongside A Record Lookup whenever you enable IPv6 on a host.

DNS resolution happens in multiple stages. When you type a domain name, your browser first checks its own cache, then the OS resolver cache, then queries your configured DNS resolver (usually your ISP or a public resolver like 8.8.8.8 or 1.1.1.1). If none have the record cached, the resolver performs a recursive query: it asks the root name servers for the TLD servers (.com, .net, etc.), then asks the TLD servers for the authoritative name servers of the specific domain, and finally asks the authoritative servers for the actual record. This entire process typically completes in under 100ms. DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH) encrypts DNS queries in HTTPS traffic, preventing ISPs and network observers from seeing which domains you query. It was standardized in RFC 8484 in 2018 and is now supported by all major browsers. Google and Cloudflare both operate free public DoH endpoints (dns.google and cloudflare-dns.com). TXT records have become a critical security mechanism: SPF (Sender Policy Framework) records specify which servers are allowed to send email for a domain, DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) records provide public keys for verifying email signatures, and DMARC records tell receiving mail servers what to do when SPF or DKIM checks fail. Checking these records is the first step in diagnosing email deliverability problems.

How to use AAAA Record Lookup

Enter a domain name (e.g. example.com, without http://).
Select a record type (A, AAAA, MX, TXT, CNAME, NS, SOA, CAA, SRV, PTR) or an email policy check (DMARC, SPF, DKIM).
Click Lookup to see live DNS records, then copy all results with one click.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an AAAA record?: An AAAA record maps a hostname to an IPv6 address, the same way an A record maps to IPv4. It is often called a quad-A record. Domains that support IPv6 publish both A and AAAA records so clients on either network can reach them.
Do I need an AAAA record?: Not strictly, since IPv4 still works everywhere, but it helps. Mobile networks in particular increasingly run IPv6-only with translation, and a native AAAA record avoids that translation layer. Only publish one if the server genuinely answers on that address.
Why does my site load slowly after adding an AAAA record?: Usually because the IPv6 address is published but not actually reachable. Clients try it, wait for a timeout, then fall back to IPv4. Either fix IPv6 connectivity on the server or remove the AAAA record until it works.
What does an IPv6 address look like?: Eight groups of four hexadecimal digits separated by colons, such as 2001:0db8:0000:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334. Runs of zero groups can be collapsed to a double colon once per address, which shortens that example to 2001:db8::8a2e:370:7334.
Can one domain have both A and AAAA records?: Yes, and that is the normal setup for IPv6-enabled sites. It is called dual-stack. Clients choose between the two, typically preferring IPv6 when it is available and working.

AAAA Record Lookup

About AAAA Record Lookup

How to use AAAA Record Lookup

Frequently Asked Questions

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